OK, calibration time has come, and it appears I will have some questions.

Firstly, I am using the first version of the build documentation, is there an updated version?

Step 1. Easy, no sweat.
Step 2. I might not be understanding here. Beginning with a .008v reading and no gate LED lit, I cannot seem to get the LED to light nor the jump towards rail voltage IF I am pressing the ribbon. No amount of adjusting seems to get there while pressing down. However when I release, the voltage rises and the LED lights and stays that way. Without pressure I can find the trip point easily. Checking the upper part of the ribbon seems moot as the lowest part is not behaving properly.

If I am to understand correctly, the gate LED should light only while pressure is applied and NOT stay lit after(this would make sense but ...)

Step 3. I skipped to 3 just to see what its all about... VR2 adjustment to -4.75v no problem. Now the adjustment of VR3 will not go into positive voltage, it winds down to 0.00v but no positive gain no matter how many turns. I know VR2/3 are to have some interaction, I can fond no way to get a positive voltage from VR3.

The LED and gate signals are ultimately derived from a comparator determining if voltage is present on the ribbon input.

1. First of all, let's see if the ribbon voltage is correct. If there is no pressure on the ribbon, pin 10 of U13 should be 0V or so. Once you press on the ribbon, that voltage will jump up. The lower you are on the ribbon, the lower that voltage will be.

2. If you get the correct voltage response at pin 10 of U13, make sure that pin 8 of U13 follows that voltage faithfully.

3. If step 2 is OK, make sure the voltage is making it to R47, which connects to pin 2 of the comparator U12 (this would be the end of R47 facing the edge of the board - sorry, didn't mark that).

4. If the voltage is making it to R47, then Pin 1 of U12 should go low when the voltage on R47 exceeds the voltage as set by VR1. When you adjust VR1, you are setting the trip point for the lowest voltage produced by the ribbon.

5. If that is happening, check TP7 to ensure that it is actually tripping high when Pin 1 of U12 trips low. If it is not, check the comparator reference voltage (produced by R54 and R22) on pin 5 of U12. This should be around 1.4 or slightly less (assuming a 15V supply is being used).

Wow, cool. I saw the voltage readings on the ribbon, but I couldn't reply because I had to go to my son's Christmas concert. What did you figure out was the deal?

I can dig the cal being a drag - it can be a pain in the ass. I helped Scot Solida with his, and, after over a year since I calibrated mine, it kicked my ass, and I was following my own directions.... _________________My Site

Well, thanks guys. I suppose it would be a toss-up between tar-and-feathers or sainthood, depending on which side of the cal you're on.

Seriously, though, the same offer as I've made on the Klee stands to any builder who hits a point that seems insurmountable - send it to my place and I'll get it working one way or the other. For wife-related reasons, the only thing I require would be return postage.

I hope you all enjoy your Appendages as much as I enjoy mine._________________My Site

I am getting ready (finally) to build my appendage (hmmmm...)! I have the 500mm spoftpot that I bought originally when I got the PCB, but my buddy just GAVE me a 1000mm softpot that they got when cleaning out an electronics lab that was shutdown where he works. Are there any issues or mods that need to be made to use the 1000mm? It would be WAY cool to be able to use it!

I am getting ready (finally) to build my appendage (hmmmm...)! I have the 500mm spoftpot that I bought originally when I got the PCB, but my buddy just GAVE me a 1000mm softpot that they got when cleaning out an electronics lab that was shutdown where he works. Are there any issues or mods that need to be made to use the 1000mm? It would be WAY cool to be able to use it

No modifications will be required. The 500 mm and 1000 mm softpots are both 20K. Just jumper the positions at JP1, pins 2 to 3 as you would for a 500 mm SP.

I'll be bringing and playing the Appendage to the E-M festival in Kansas City in two weeks. The Appendage is awesome.

I wish I could make it to KC to see and hear yours, as I really like your dotcom panel, not to mention your Walking Stick enclosure... nice job!! I'm in on the next run of PCBs and am gathering parts, info, thoughts... anything that will help with completing my own Appendage.

That being said, and now that you've got some actual Appendage time under your belt (is there a double entendre stuck in there?? this project seems to bring that out in people), I'm wondering if you're happy with your implementation and am curious if there's anything you would do differently. Also, any chance you'd be willing to share a full size PDF of your panel, or at least a larger photo that would make seeing everything a bit easier? And where'd you get the panel itself??? Sorry for all the questions, but this is a big project and there's a ton more where these came from.

While I'm here asking questions, here are a couple for you, Bill.... is there a thread around where you describe your build a bit? I'm curious about how you implemented the CV/Trigger-to-MIDI section of your panel. It's very impressive and I'd really like to learn more about it. I'm also curious about the panel itself... did you have it done by FPE, do it yourself, or what? It's really nicely done. I've been saving up to add a CNC router to my small machine shop so I can start doing my own engraving (and drilling without having to fiddle the dials on my milling machine) and am anxious to learn about tooling, in-filling, etc (among other things). Thanks again for making this new run of Appendage PCBs happen, it's really appreciated.

While I'm here asking questions, here are a couple for you, Bill.... is there a thread around where you describe your build a bit? I'm curious about how you implemented the CV/Trigger-to-MIDI section of your panel.

The CV/Trigger to MIDI was implimented on an Arduino (Atmel AVR) controller platform and a prototype MIDI shield I had designed to sit on top of the controller board. Utilizing the GATE and any of the CV outputs of the ribbon controller, my device would them transform this into MIDI NOTE ON/OFF messages to facilitate use of my computer based instruments alongside my analog modular. I can share this with you if you like.

Quote:

I'm also curious about the panel itself... did you have it done by FPE, do it yourself, or what? It's really nicely done. I've been saving up to add a CNC router to my small machine shop so I can start doing my own engraving (and drilling without having to fiddle the dials on my milling machine) and am anxious to learn about tooling, in-filling, etc (among other things).

This is a panel I drafted using the Front designer software from FPE. I really like using the GOLD finish. Sounds like a nice goal to get tooled up for doing your own panels. I don;t have any more room in my brain for another craft. lol .... Upon request, I can also send that FPE file to you. Just PM me you e-mail address and I can send the details of the CV 2 MIDI and the panel.

Quote:

Thanks again for making this new run of Appendage PCBs happen, it's really appreciated.

I'll be bringing and playing the Appendage to the E-M festival in Kansas City in two weeks. The Appendage is awesome.

Scott, may I mail you some information that you could bring to the festival on how folks could order the PC boards for the ribbon controller. I am sorry to sound so self serving but I see this as a nice opportunity to make available to our DIY brothers what you are about to demonstrate.

While I'm here asking questions, here are a couple for you, Bill.... is there a thread around where you describe your build a bit? I'm curious about how you implemented the CV/Trigger-to-MIDI section of your panel.

The CV/Trigger to MIDI was implimented on an Arduino (Atmel AVR) controller platform and a prototype MIDI shield I had designed to sit on top of the controller board. Utilizing the GATE and any of the CV outputs of the ribbon controller, my device would them transform this into MIDI NOTE ON/OFF messages to facilitate use of my computer based instruments alongside my analog modular. I can share this with you if you like.

That's very interesting... I thought it was sending controller messages. I also noticed that it has both MIDI IN and MIDI OUT, am curious about why the MIDI IN? Rather than get into a big discussion about this here, I'll send you a PM and we can go on about it more or less offline.

State Machine wrote:

Quote:

I'm also curious about the panel itself... did you have it done by FPE, do it yourself, or what? It's really nicely done. I've been saving up to add a CNC router to my small machine shop so I can start doing my own engraving (and drilling without having to fiddle the dials on my milling machine) and am anxious to learn about tooling, in-filling, etc (among other things).

This is a panel I drafted using the Front designer software from FPE. I really like using the GOLD finish. Sounds like a nice goal to get tooled up for doing your own panels. I don;t have any more room in my brain for another craft. lol .... Upon request, I can also send that FPE file to you. Just PM me you e-mail address and I can send the details of the CV 2 MIDI and the panel.

I used FPD to design a panel for the MFOS CV/Gate DIstributor... to me it was very painful. Don't get me wrong, the panel FPE made me from that drawing came out great, but given their prices and the number of modules I've got in my backlog, I'm thinking this router will pay for itself in pretty short order. I've been using AutoCAD for decades and can do in ten minutes with it what it takes me an hour or more with FPD. It's also why I'm not concerned about setting up my own CNC router.. I taught myself machining about 6-7 years ago, and this is just an extension of that activity. I also used to setup, service, and train people on machinery that used steppers and controllers, so it'll be sort of like coming home again.

Anyway, I'll PM you my email and we can take this offline. THanks again.

I'll be bringing and playing the Appendage to the E-M festival in Kansas City in two weeks. The Appendage is awesome.

Scott, may I mail you some information that you could bring to the festival on how folks could order the PC boards for the ribbon controller. I am sorry to sound so self serving but I see this as a nice opportunity to make available to our DIY brothers what you are about to demonstrate.

I'll be bringing and playing the Appendage to the E-M festival in Kansas City in two weeks. The Appendage is awesome.

I wish I could make it to KC to see and hear yours, as I really like your dotcom panel, not to mention your Walking Stick enclosure... nice job!! I'm in on the next run of PCBs and am gathering parts, info, thoughts... anything that will help with completing my own Appendage.

That being said, and now that you've got some actual Appendage time under your belt (is there a double entendre stuck in there?? this project seems to bring that out in people), I'm wondering if you're happy with your implementation and am curious if there's anything you would do differently. Also, any chance you'd be willing to share a full size PDF of your panel, or at least a larger photo that would make seeing everything a bit easier? And where'd you get the panel itself??? Sorry for all the questions, but this is a big project and there's a ton more where these came from.

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<Marv>

Sorry it's taken me so long to answer this. I've only just seen it. I'm very happy with the Appendage. I've only begun to scratch the surface of what it can do. It's extremely versatile. Would I change anything? No, not at all.

I bought a blank 4-space panel from Synthesizers.com and screen-printed the graphics on it myself. I'm happy to provide the graphics to anyone who wants 'em. It's a tight fit behind that 4-space panel. The module is mounted parallel to the panel, but it is every bit as wide as the panel itself.

Also, any chance you'd be willing to share a full size PDF of your panel, or at least a larger photo that would make seeing everything a bit easier? And where'd you get the panel itself??? Sorry for all the questions, but this is a big project and there's a ton more where these came from.

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